Take Me for What I'm Worth
Take Me for What I'm Worth is the fifth studio album by the English rock band The Searchers and the group's first LP which missed the official Record Retailer Top 20 album chart in the United Kingdom. Released in the end of 1965 it was the last album by the Searchers before the leader of the band Chris Curtis left. Album included some songs written by members of the band as well as cover versions of some well known tracks originally recorded by The Ronettes ("Be My Baby"), Fats Domino ("I’m Ready"), Marvin Gaye ("I'll Be Doggone") or Ian and Sylvia ("Four Strong Winds"). The title track, written by P. F. Sloan, was the last Top 20 hit for the band in the UK.[1]
Take Me for What I'm Worth | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 1965 | |||
Recorded | 1965 | |||
Studio | Pye Studios, London | |||
Genre | Rock/Pop/Folk | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | Pye | |||
Producer | Tony Hatch | |||
The Searchers chronology | ||||
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Singles from Take Me for What I'm Worth | ||||
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Recording
Sessions for Take Me for What I'm Worth LP began in May 1965 at Pye Studios. During these sessions, one out-take version of the Marvin Gaye hit was made: an alternate "I'll Be Doggone" with Chris Curtis on lead vocals (released only on US LP The Searchers No. 4) Although the album was completed very soon, it stayed in the vaults for another five months and it was not released until the end of the year.[2]
Release
Take Me for What I'm Worth was released as a mono LP album on the Pye label with the catalogue number NPL 18120 and as a stereo album NSPL 18120 but failed to chart (Record Retailer printed only the Top 20 album chart in 1965).[3]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
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1. | "I'm Ready" | Fats Domino, Al Lewis, Sylvester Bradford | Chris Curtis | 1:54 |
2. | "I'll Be Doggone" | Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore, Marv Tarplin | Frank Allen | 2:54 |
3. | "Does She Really Care For Me" | Larry Weiss, Fred Anisfield | Chris Curtis | 2:07 |
4. | "It's Time" | John McNally | John McNally | 2:34 |
5. | "Too Many Miles" | Mike Pender, Chris Curtis, John McNally, Frank Allen | Mike Pender | 2:08 |
6. | "You Can't Lie To a Liar" | Frank Churchill, Lionel Hampton | Mike Pender | 2:22 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
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1. | "Don't You Know Why" | John McNally | Mike Pender | 2:38 |
2. | "I'm Your Loving Man" | Mike Pender, Chris Curtis | Mike Pender, Chris Curtis | 1:57 |
3. | "Each Time" | Jackie DeShannon | Mike Pender, Chris Curtis | 2:46 |
4. | "Be My Baby" | Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector | Frank Allen | 3:16 |
5. | "Four Strong Winds" | Ian Tyson | Mike Pender, Chris Curtis | 3:07 |
6. | "Take Me For What I'm Worth" | P. F. Sloan | Mike Pender | 2:40 |
The First US version (The Searchers No. 4)
The Searchers No. 4 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 1965 | |||
Recorded | 1965 | |||
Studio | Pye Studios, London | |||
Genre | Rock/Pop/Folk | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | Kapp | |||
Producer | Tony Hatch | |||
The Searchers US chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Searchers No. 4 | ||||
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In September 1965 (prior to UK release), Kapp Records released the first US version of the LP, as The Searchers No. 4, with a different cover art and with a slightly different track listing. Kapp removed "I'm Ready", "It's Time", "Too Many Miles" and "Take Me For What I'm Worth" and added the hit singles Goodbye My Love and He's Got No Love (as well as the group's self-penned B-sides "Till I Met You" and "So Far Away"). Early front covers incorrectly show a song titled "Can't You Just See Me", later correct this to "I'm Your Lovin' Man". Album entered the Billboard Top 200 LP charts on October 23rd 1965 went to No. 149 and stayed for 2 weeks.[4] The opening track "You Can't Lie To a Liar" was released as a single b/w "Don't You Know Why", but missed the charts.
Track listing (The Searchers No. 4)
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original UK release | Length |
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1. | "You Can't Lie To a Liar" | Frank Churchill, Lionel Hampton | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:20 |
2. | "Goodbye My Love" | Robert Mosley, Lamar Simington, Leroy Swearingen | non-album single | 2:58 |
3. | "Don't You Know Why" | John McNally | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:36 |
4. | "Does She Really Care For Me" | Larry Weiss, Fred Anisfield | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:04 |
5. | "So Far Away" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender | non-album single, B-side He's Got No Love | 1:59 |
6. | "I'll Be Doggone" | Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore, Marvin Tarplin | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:52 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original UK release | Length |
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1. | "Each Time" | Jackie DeShannon | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:46 |
2. | "Till I Met You" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank Allen | non-album single, B-side Goodbye My Love | 2:57 |
3. | "I'm Your Loving Man" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 1:57 |
4. | "Be My Baby" | Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 3:16 |
5. | "Four Strong Winds" | Ian Tyson | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 3:06 |
6. | "He's Got No Love" | Mike Pender, Chris Curtis | non-album single | 2:38 |
The Second US version (Take Me for What I'm Worth)
Take Me for What I'm Worth (US) | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1966 | |||
Recorded | 1965 | |||
Studio | Pye Studios, London | |||
Genre | Rock/Pop/Folk | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | Kapp | |||
Producer | Tony Hatch | |||
The Searchers US chronology | ||||
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Singles from Take Me for What I'm Worth (US) | ||||
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In February 1966 Kapp Records released LP again. This time under the UK title Take Me for What I'm Worth and with a similar cover art (with B/W photo of the band). Once again it was released with a different track listing included previous UK hit singles "He's Got No Love" and When I Get Home (written by Bobby Darin) and their B-sides. For some reasons, both US editions omitted the UK opening rock and roll stomper „I’m Ready“ (originally by Fats Domino).
Track listing (US Take Me for What I'm Worth)
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original UK release | Length |
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1. | "Take Me For What I'm Worth" | P. F. Sloan | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:40 |
2. | "I'm Never Coming Back" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender | non-album single, B-side When I Get Home | 1:58 |
3. | "Too Many Miles" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender, John McNally, Frank Allen | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:07 |
4. | "It's Time" | John McNally | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:36 |
5. | "So Far Away" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender | non-album single, B-side He's Got No Love | 1:59 |
6. | "You Can't Lie To a Liar" | Frank Churchill, Lionel Hampton | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:20 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original UK release | Length |
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1. | "Don't You Know Why" | John McNally | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:36 |
2. | "Each Time" | Jackie DeShannon | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:46 |
3. | "He's Got No Love" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender | non-album single | 2:38 |
4. | "I'll Be Doggone" | Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore, Marvin Tarplin | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 2:52 |
5. | "I'm Your Loving Man" | Chris Curtis, Mike Pender | Take Me for What I'm Worth | 1:57 |
6. | "When I Get Home" | Bobby Darin, Russell Alquist | non-album single | 2:09 |
Personnel
The Searchers
- Mike Pender – lead guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals
- John McNally – rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals
- Frank Allen – bass, lead and backing vocals
- Chris Curtis – drums, lead and backing vocals
Additional musicians and production
- Tony Hatch – producer, piano
- Ray Prickett – Recording engineer
References
- "Searchers: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- Peter Doggett, Take Me for What I'm Worth (CD liner notes), Sanctuary Records, 2001.
- Official Charts website History of the UK charts retrieved 7 June 2020.
- "Billboard database". Retrieved 2021-02-02.